I had to laugh ...

[Cowardly Lioness]

Hi everyone 

Just wanted to say hi (since I'm new here) and tell a quick story.

I'm in my 40s and married and have tried to contain my TS feelings for a very long time (without much success) including growing a full beard to make me feel more manly.  Recently I have let my hair grow, got my ears pierced and began removing body hair.  Not too long ago I shaved my mustache and beard.  Now I am not fooling myself ... I look like a man.  My body and facial structure are masculine and it would take more than a layer of make up and some pretty clothes to cover it up.

Anyway ... My wife and I were out shopping.  I was dressed in my usual guy clothes (casual and loose).  We walked into a plus size women's clothing store to look around and the clerk walked up and asked ,"Can I help you ladies?"    I turned and stared in shock (probably looked like a deer in the headlights), my wife started laughing and finally said no thank you. 

I personally think the clerk just has very bad eyesight ... but I did get a good laugh out of it

[Jay]

Wow. Its brilliant when these things happen. And the fact you weren't even dressed Absolutely brilliant.

Jay

[tekla]

Actually it speaks more for my thesis that people are paying a lot less attention than we think they are.

[finewine]

I got hassled by the religious police once in Saudi because they were behind me, saw long hair (that I had at the time) and bare arms...they came around all set to give me a beating (cane at the ready and everything) when they saw my face and went "aahh ok".

But that wasn't funny - I didn't laugh at all.  I can look back on it now with a smile, if I overlook what those policemen represent.

[Just Kate]

Aww, I like ironic/funny stories.  I have one:

Back when I was living as a girl, I got to know this awesome guy at work.  He was tall, handsome, intelligent, yadda yadda yadda.  He was one of the few who knew I was trans because he was one of the managers of the business. 

Anyhow, after working up the courage to talk with him, he and I developed a friendship, and he started inviting me to his upscale apartment to hang out with him.  Well after about a month of hanging out, I told him I'd really like to make dinner for us one night - to which he agreed.  It was that night I intended to... well, make my intentions known, and hoped we could hook up.

Dinner was served and I was so excited and nervous.  We sat down together to talk over dinner and, reading my mind and intentions, he said, "I want you to know that I really like you, I think you are terrific, but I could never have a relationship with you."  He then said, "I'm gay." 

I thought, "ok.... I can work with this" so I replied optimistically, "Well, I know you know I am trans, so is that still a problem?"

He laughed and said, "I know, but I absolutely cannot see you as male.  I tried, trust me, I thought I could make it work, but the more we hung out the more I realized I wasn't physically attracted to you."

I went home to my roommate... and cried....  oh the irony.  Funny now looking back at it.

[Cowardly Lioness]

Actually it speaks more for my thesis that people are paying a lot less attention than we think they are.

I totally agree.  Unless something stands out as completely out of place people are not likely to even notice it (and even if it's obvious they may not   )
Post Merge: May 26, 2009, 09:34:36 AM
interalia - That is too funny 

finewine - I sometimes forget how different some cultures are.  That must have been a bit frightening.

[aisha]

hey its a talking duck

[Debra]

Gotta love stuff like this even if you know something else caused it.

When I was in the ER a bit ago, my hair was longer and such but it was still obvious I was male.

After waiting on a bed for the doc for a while, the clerk came back and replaced my wrist tag and smiled shyly and said something like "I had put female before".

I should've asked to keep the female-marked wrist tag for a souvenir lol.

My wife just glared at me.

[Hanlet]

I always find it funny when a bouncer or attendant kicks me out of the female toilets in a club. Usually I'll be standing in there, waiting with a friend for another person, and I'll feel a hand on my arm. "Excuse me, sir, but you have to leave". When my friend(s) laugh and the bouncer gets a good look at me, they always give a mumbled 'sorry'. It can get irritating when I'm barred access before I even get there, but I'm not nearly confident enough in passing to use the blokes'. Most people expect me to be embarrassed, but I secretly love it